Jason Aller Floppy Collection/84.img/EXCEL1.ZIP/READMEEM.TXT

Text File | 1989-06-30 | 22.3 KB | 502 lines

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      USING MICROSOFT EXCEL WITH EXTENDED AND EXPANDED MEMORY
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Microsoft Excel has the ability to use memory beyond the basic
640K in your computer.  This memory can be of one of two types:
expanded or extended.  Expanded memory allows Microsoft Excel to
both operate faster and handle larger models.  Extended memory
mainly allows Microsoft Excel to operate faster, although in
computers based on the Intel 80386 processor it also allows
Microsoft Excel to handle larger models.

This file includes information on the following:

  *Using Expanded Memory
  *Using Extended Memory
  *Emulating Expanded Memory with Extended memory
  *Installing Smartdrive
  *Installing RAMDrive
  *Increasing performance of Microsoft Excel on networks
  *Using wide worksheets in Expanded Memory
  *Reserving Expanded memory for the macro translation assistant

To read this file:
  *Use the PgUp/PgDn keys to see the next/previous page.
  *Press the Esc key to finish viewing the file.

For more detailed technical information on memory, networks, and printers,
see the booklet called "Getting the Most from your Hardware with Microsoft
Excel".  This booklet is available directly from Microsoft.  For ordering
information, see the Microsoft Excel 360K Conversion Kit and Bonus Kit
Offer order form in your package.

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USING EXPANDED MEMORY

Expanded memory is memory that conforms to the EMS (LIM) or EEMS
specifications.  To add expanded memory, you install an EMS or EEMS
board (e.g. INTEL Above Board or AST Rampage!) in your computer
along with it's appropriate expanded memory manager.

Microsoft Excel requires an expanded memory driver that uses
LIM EMS 3.2 or greater, which includes EEMS and LIM EMS 4.0.
However, using LIM EMS 4.0 provides benefit to Microsoft Windows
as well as better overall performance.

The Microsoft Excel 2.1 package contains software supporting the
AST RAMpage!, the IBM Personal System/2 80286 Memory Expansion Option,
the AT&T Expanded Memory Adapter, and the Intel Above Board.  This
software is located in four files, REMM.SYS, PS2EMM.SYS, AEMM.SYS and
EMM.SYS located on your Utilities disk.

The software for the AST RAMpage is named REMM.SYS.  For detailed
instructions on how to install REMM.SYS, see the file REMM.TXT on
your Utilities disks.

The software for the IBM Personal System/2 80286 Memory Expansion Option
is named  PS2EMM.SYS.  For detailed instructions on how to install
PS2EMM.SYS, see the file PS2EMM.TXT on the Utilities Disk.  NOTE:  This
driver does NOT work with the "IBM 80286 Expanded Memory Adapter /A",
also known as the XMA board.  If you wish to use the XMA board with
Microsoft Excel 2.1, you will need to install the LIM EMS 3.2 driver
included with your XMA board.

The software for the AT&T Expanded Memory Adapter is named AEMM.SYS.
For detailed instructions on how to install AEMM.SYS, see the file
AEMM.TXT on your Utilities disks.

The software for the Intel Above Board is named EMM.SYS. For detailed
instructions on how to install EMM.SYS, see the file EMM.TXT on your
Utilities disks.


To set up an expanded memory board with Microsoft Excel:

1.  Check the documentation for your expanded memory
    board to make sure your expanded memory driver
    supports the EMS or EEMS specification.

2.  Install the expanded memory board according to the
    manufacturer's instructions.

3.  Install the expanded memory driver according to the
    manufacturer's instructions.

    The installation may include modifying your computer's
    CONFIG.SYS file (a file used by DOS with start-up
    information for the devices in your system) and
    restarting your computer to make sure the expanded
    memory driver is loaded.

Once you've installed expanded memory, you can start Microsoft Excel.
Microsoft Excel will then use expanded memory automatically; no
additional steps are necessary. You can verify how much expanded
memory is available to Microsoft Excel using the Help About command.

You can allocate expanded memory in a variety of ways. Many expanded
memory boards include utilities that enhance the functionality of
the board, such as print spoolers and disk caching. When using
Microsoft Excel, you should only use expanded memory for storing
Microsoft Excel's data or for Smartdrive.  Other uses (like a print
spooler) detract from the amount of memory that Microsoft Excel can
use for data, and provide no major benefits to Microsoft Excel.

Using Smartdrive in expanded memory:

Note: To be effective, Smartdrive requires at least 256kb of
memory.  Also note, when installing SMARTDRV.SYS in expanded
memory, be sure that the "device=SMARTDRIVE.SYS [size] /A" command
line in your CONFIG.SYS file appears after the command line that
installs your expanded memory manager.  For more technical information
see "Getting the Most from Your Hardware with Microsoft Excel" which
is available directly from Microsoft.

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USING EXTENDED MEMORY

Extended memory is memory beyond 640K on systems based on the Intel
80286 and 80386 processors. This memory is designed for use in
protected mode operating systems and is generally not directly
accessible to DOS programs.

You can make extended memory accessible to Microsoft Excel in one of
three ways:

a) Converting it to expanded memory by means of an expanded
memory emulation program or by using Windows/386. Use this method
if your computer is based on the Intel 80386 processor. This method
is not available on computers based on the Intel 80286 or 8086/8088
processors.

b) Using Microsoft Excel's built-in extended memory driver. Use this
method if your computer is based on the Intel 80286 processor and is
100% compatible with the IBM AT computer.

NOTE:  The built in extended memory driver automatically disables
itself if you use LIM EMS 4.0 or the Windows HI-MEM extended memory
feature.

c) Using the Smartdrive disk caching program included in your
Microsoft Excel package.

d) Install Windows (including run-time Windows) to use 64 kb
of extended memory.  This will provide Microsoft Excel with
45kb more conventional memory which provides great performance
benefits to Microsoft Excel and Windows.

NOTE: Using extended memory with full Windows/286 2.1 or the run-time
version included with Microsoft Excel requires a device driver
HIMEM.SYS be installed, SETUP will do this for you automatically.

Windows/386 does not require the HIMEM.SYS device driver, all
extended memory use and HIMEM.SYS benefits are provided internally
by WIndows/386.

Technical information on himem.sys:
---------------------------------
On 286 or 386 machines with extended (NOT expanded) memory, it is
possible to use a 64K region at segment FFFE.  In order to gain
access to this memory, Windows needs to have the device driver himem.sys
installed in your config.sys file.  Setup will automatically install
this driver in your config.sys file if it detects the presence of
extended memory.  If you install this device driver in your config.sys
file and you do not have any extended memory available, either because
you don't have memory that is mapped to FFFE, or because smartdrv.sys
or ramdrive.sys have already been allocated that memory, you will get
an error message saying "WARNING: Himem Memory Area Unavailable" at boot
time.  Make sure that if you are using ramdrive.sys or smartdrive.sys
in addition to himem.sys that you leave sufficient memory to himem.sys.

If you have an EXPANDED memory card, you can usually adjust jumpers so
that some part of the memory is allocated to extended memory (64K would
be optimal), and the rest is allocated to expanded.  Unfortunately several
of the expanded memory cards only allow you allocate extended memory in
128K portions, which means that the extra 64K allocated to extended memory
after himem.sys has used the 64K it needs will NOT be used unless you
install ramdrive.sys or smartdrive.sys to use that extended memory.

Consult your expanded memory adapter and the associated readme files
on your Utilities disks for additional information.  Run the memset
program for information on how memory is configured in your machine.


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EMULATING EXPANDED MEMORY WITH EXTENDED MEMORY

On computers based on the Intel 80386 processor, you can
emulate expanded memory using extended memory. There are
two basic ways to do this:

1. Use Microsoft Windows/386.  Microsoft Windows/386 provides
   expanded memory to programs like Microsoft Excel by mapping
   the extended memory in your computer as expanded memory without
   the use of any special device drivers.  Windows/386 is only
   available for computers based on the Intel 80386 processor.

2. Use an expanded memory emulator, a program that is included
   with most computers based on the Intel 80386 processor. (For
   example, the Compaq Deskpro 386 computer includes the CEMM.EXE
   expanded memory emulator.)

   To set up extended memory to be used as expanded memory, follow
   these steps:

   a.  Check the documentation for your computer to make sure
       it includes an expanded memory emulator program.

   b.  Install the expanded memory program according to the
       computer manufacturer's instructions.

       The installation may include modifying your computer's
       CONFIG.SYS file (a file used by DOS with start-up
       information for the devices in your system) and
       restarting your computer to make sure the expanded
       memory driver is loaded.

   Once you've installed the expanded memory emulator, you can
   start Microsoft Excel. Microsoft Excel will then use expanded
   memory automatically; no additional steps are necessary. You
   can verify how much expanded memory is available to Microsoft
   Excel using the Help About command.

   You can use the expanded memory produced by the emulator in all the
   ways you can use normal expanded memory, including for disk caching
   with Smartdrive. However, as when installing normal expanded memory,
   you should keep in mind that the memory used in this way will not be
   available to Microsoft Excel for storing data. Unless your work
   involves frequently switching back and forth between Microsoft Excel
   and other applications using Microsoft Windows, and unless you have
   1.0 MB or more of expanded memory, you will get best results by not
   installing Smartdrive and leaving all expanded memory free for
   Microsoft Excel's data.  Run the MEMSET program from the DOS prompt
   while in your Microsoft Excel directory for assistance in determining
   the best size SmartDrive to use.

NOTE:  Some expanded memory emulators may not function properly
with the Windows/286 HIMEM feature described above.  In cases like
this, it's best to re-install Windows (or run-time Windows) to not
use the extended memory.  Instead use the expanded memory emulator to
convert the extended memory to expanded for larger Microsoft Excel
models.

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INSTALLING and USING SMARTDRIVE

Smartdrive is a disk-caching program included with Microsoft Excel for
computers that have a hard disk and an expanded or extended memory board.
It is designed to reduce the amount of time your computer spends reading
data from your hard disk, thus increasing performance.

INSTALLING SMARTDRIVE
---------------------
The easiest way to install SmartDrive is by running a program called
Memset which will be copied to your Microsoft Excel directory during
SETUP.  In addition, MEMSET is invoked automatically during SETUP.
Be sure to properly install your extended or expanded memory board
according to the manufacturers instructions before installing SmartDrive.

To automatically install SMARTDRIVE by running MEMSET from the DOS
prompt, do the following:

  1) Change directories to the Microsoft Excel directory.
     (See your DOS manual for information on changing directories.)
  2) Type MEMSET then pressing the Enter key.
  3) Follow the instructions on the screen.

IMPORTANT: When running Microsoft Excel, you should use Smartdrive (or
RAMDrive, see below) as replacements for any memory-disk program (such as
VDISK) or any disk-caching program (such as Vcache or LIGHTNING) previously
installed on your computer.

CONFIG.SYS file considerations:
------------------------------
The order that you list things in the Config.sys file can be important
depending on what else you are installing.  Note the special considerations
below on order and the number of buffers needed.  Consult your DOS manual
regarding general questions on your CONFIG.SYS file.)

a. Set the buffers= line to 20.  Setting buffers= to a higher value
   uses memory without additional benefit. The line in your config.sys
   file should look like "buffers=20".

b. If you have an expanded memory board, the Smartdrive command line
   must follow any CONFIG.SYS command lines that are used to install an
   expanded memory driver.

c. If you are installing Smartdrive in a computer with a disk
   partitioning program (e.g. ENHDISK.SYS in Compaq Deskpro 386), make
   sure that the device= entry for Smartdrive appears after the entry for
   the disk partitioning program.

d. If you use SmartDrive in expanded memory use the /A parameter at the
   end of the SmartDrive command line.

e. Delete any command lines associated with other memory-disk or disk-
   caching programs from the CONFIG.SYS file.

Be sure to restart your computer to start Smartdrive.  Each time you start
DOS, your system will display a message indicating that Smartdrive is
enabled, along with the cache size (amount of memory you specified) and
type of memory (expanded or extended) allotted for Smartdrive

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INSTALLING and USING RAMDRIVE

RAMDRIVE.SYS is a virtual disk program which uses part of your computers
memory as a very fast disk drive.  Using the memory based disk drive is
just like using a standard disk drive except that the information stored
in the memory based disk drive is lost when you turn the computer off.

INSTALLING RAMDRIVE
-------------------
The easiest way to install RAMDrive is by running a program called
Memset which will be copied to your Microsoft Excel directory during
SETUP.  (In addition, MEMSET is invoked automatically during SETUP.)
Be sure to properly install your extended or expanded memory board
according to the manufacturers instructions before installing RAMDrive.

To automatically install RAMDRIVE by running MEMSET from the DOS
prompt, do the following:
  1) Change directories to the Microsoft Excel directory.
     (See your DOS manual for information on changing directories.)
  2) Type MEMSET then pressing the Enter key.
  3) Follow the instructions on the screen.

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INCREASING PERFORMANCE of MICROSOFT EXCEL on NETWORKS

You can increase performance by running Microsoft Excel from a virtual
disk drive (RAMDRIVE):

1. Use the MEMSET program to install RAMDrive. It will install a 592kb
   RAMDrive, just large enough for EXCEL.EXE.  For the purpose of
   explanation, assume that the RAMDrive is installed as the D: drive.
   (The RAMdrive install message will tell you the drive letter used,
   substitute that drive letter for D: in the explanation below if it's
   different.)

2. Copy the Microsoft Excel program file (EXCEL.EXE) from the network
   server to the RAMDRIVE (Drive D:).

3. Adjust your DOS PATH so that the RAMDRIVE Drive letter is listed in the
   path before the Excel directory on the network drive.  The PATH
   statement is usually contained in the  AUTOEXEC.BAT file. (For complete
   information on the DOS PATH statement, consult your DOS manual.)

   Once the PATH statement in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file has been changed, it's
   necessary that you rerun the AUTOEXEC.BAT file by either rebooting or
   typing AUTOEXEC and pressing ENTER.

To automate the process, you can perform both step 2 and step 3 above
by using your autoexec.bat file.

IMPORTANT RAMDrive Note: It's recommended that you do not save your
Microsoft Excel data files to RAMdrive since the data will be lost if
you reboot or turn off your computer.

For more detailed information on installing RAMDrive SMARTDrive,
increasing performance, or optimizing your system, order the booklet
titled "Getting the Most from Your Hardware with Microsoft Excel."
For ordering information, see the Microsoft Excel 360K Conversion Kit
and Bonus Kit Offer order form in your package.

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USING EXPANDED MEMORY WITH WIDE WORKSHEETS

For improved performance, Microsoft Excel only stores worksheet
data in expanded memory for rows that are up to 160 columns
wide. If you work with worksheets that have rows that are wider
than 160 columns and you encounter an "Out of Memory Message" while
you still have free expanded memory, you can change your WIN.INI
preferences file so that Microsoft Excel stores those rows in
expanded memory as well.

Note:  Do not make this change unless you have expanded memory
and you need to work with very wide worksheets. Making this change
makes Microsoft Excel manage memory slightly less efficiently.
Make this change if you use wide worksheets and notice an "Out of
Memory" alert while you still have free expanded memory.

To edit the WIN.INI file to store wide rows in expanded memory
proceed as follows:

1. In DOS, use the cd command to change to the directory that
contains the WIN.INI file that you are using. In most cases,
this is the same directory in which you installed Excel.

2. To be safe, make a backup of your WIN.INI file by typing the
following command and pressing Enter:

  copy win.ini win.bak

3. Load the WIN.INI file in a text editor (e.g. edlin, Windows
Notepad) or a word processor (e.g. Windows Write, Microsoft
Word). Look for the text [Microsoft Excel], the section title
for the Microsoft Excel section.

4. Check the lines immediately after the section title. Look
for a line of the form "Block=n", where n is a number.
If the line does not exist, insert a blank line after the
section title and type "Block=2".

5. Resave the file in the text editor or word processor. (If
you are using a word processor, make sure you save the file as
unformatted text).

The next time you start Microsoft Excel the change will take
effect, and Microsoft Excel will be able to load worksheet rows
of any width into expanded memory.

If you made a mistake or you change your mind, you can undo the
change. To do so, return to DOS, change to the directory
containing the WIN.INI file, type the following command, and
press Enter:

copy win.bak win.ini

The next time you start Microsoft Excel the change will be undone.


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RESERVING EXPANDED MEMORY FOR THE MACRO TRANSLATOR ASSISTANT

If you have expanded memory on your computer, the macro
translation assistant can take advantage of that memory
to store the data structures required for the translation
process.  This allows you to translate especially complex
macros that can not be translated otherwise.

-If your expanded memory is LIM EMS 3.2, you may need to
explicitly enable the use of expanded memory by the translation
assistant.

-If you are using an expanded memory driver that implements the
LIM version 4.0 or higher, the translation assistant will
access the expanded memory automatically.

You reserve memory for the macro translator by editing a line
in the WIN.INI preferences file. To edit this line, proceed as
follows:

1. In DOS, use the cd command to change to the directory that
contains the WIN.INI file that you are using. In most cases,
this is the same directory in which you installed Excel.

2. To be safe, make a backup of your WIN.INI file by typing the
following command and pressing Enter:

  copy win.ini win.bak

3. Load the WIN.INI file in a text editor (e.g. edlin, Windows
Notepad) or a word processor (e.g. Windows Write, Microsoft
Word). Look for the text [Microsoft Excel], the section title
for the Microsoft Excel section.

4. Check the lines immediately after the section title. Look
for a line of the form "EmmReserved=n", where n is a number.
If the line does not exist, insert a blank line after the
section title and type "EmmReserved=".

5. At the right of the equal sign, type the size in K of the
memory area that you want to reserve for the translation
assistant. For example, to allocate 128K to the translation
assistant, type EmmReserved=128. If you are not sure how much
memory to reserve, start with a low number (e.g. 64). If you
later get an out of memory error while translating a macro, you
can change to a higher number.

6. Resave the file in the text editor or word processor. (If
you are using a word processor, make sure you save the file as
unformatted text).

The next time you start Microsoft Excel, the specified memory
will not be used by Microsoft Excel so the translator can use it.


If you made a mistake or you change your mind, you can undo the
change. To do so, return to DOS, change to the directory
containing the WIN.INI file, type the following command, and
press Enter:

copy win.bak win.ini

The next time you start Microsoft Excel the change will be undone.

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For more information on Microsoft Excel and memory, see "Memory
management" in the Microsoft Excel reference.

For detailed technical information on memory, printers and networks
see the document titled "Getting the Most from Your Hardware with
Microsoft Excel".  This booklet is available directly from Microsoft.
For ordering information, see the Microsoft Excel 360K Conversion Kit
and Bonus Kit Offer order form in your package.

END OF "USING MICROSOFT EXCEL WITH EXTENDED AND EXPANDED MEMORY" FILE
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